To the Love Born in the Lowest Place

It was his present self, who had come from the future, that had enabled Liv’s escape from Abgrund. After receiving Emmett’s aid, Liv had come to love and follow him. And now, with Emmett having received divine punishment and returned to the past, the moment had arrived for him to rescue Liv once more. The gods’ power was intervening with time, a resource beyond human grasp, causing the strands of time to interweave.

“Miss Liv.”

“Yes?”

Gazing at Liv’s innocent face, Emmett reaffirmed to himself:

“You will definitely leave this place, Miss Liv.”

“Yes, I believe so too.”

“Definitely.”

Liv would escape Abgrund. For Emmett was destined to release her, escorting her all the way to the temple. For events to unfold exactly as they had in the past, it was now Emmett’s turn to take action.

Having resolved to help Liv escape, he first examined the prison’s structure.

“There is no drainage.”

After carefully inspecting the prison, Emmett’s face grew pensive.

“Then what happens when it rains?”

“We wait for it to dry up!”

Liv’s all-too-cheerful response only made him feel more dejected. This was hardly a place fit for human habitation. There was no drainage system, not even basic facilities for a dignified life. Escaping through the floor seemed impossible.

Next, he focused on the ceiling hole, but…

“Miss Liv, can you climb up there?”

“No… I can’t reach it even if I jump.”

The cell was cramped yet had a high ceiling. If even Emmett couldn’t reach the hole by stretching his arm, Liv would be unable to escape through it.

“Then I suppose…”

Emmett turned his gaze to the last remaining hope – the small door in the left wall that Liv said had never opened during her time there. The door stained with Viscount Wolfe’s dried blood looked eerie, but they approached it without hesitation.

“See, it won’t open.”

Bang, bang.

Liv spoke as she slammed her body against the door, the resounding impacts suggesting it didn’t hurt her.

“It seems to be locked from the outside.”

Emmett briefly considered if there was any way to open that door, but it too seemed impossible. Since the door didn’t budge even when she threw her full weight against it, it was likely sealed not just with a simple latch, but chains or outright blocked.

“There is no way, it seems.”

Emmett’s face grew grave as he spoke. Since Liv had ended up outside, it meant his past self must have found some method. But he felt utterly vexed, unable to discern how his former self had managed it.

“It’s alright, even if I can’t leave this place…”

Seeming to sense Emmett’s solemnity, Liv spoke those words. But Emmett’s determination to release her didn’t waver. He felt love for Liv and had no intention of abandoning her in this prison. Liv had to go outside. And she had to meet his past self. Though it pained him to think of Liv falling for him again, only to be hurt, he first had to meet her to atone.

How could he get Liv out of here? There was no human way. But if the gods could have released Liv, surely they would have used their power long ago. Was it impossible even by divine means?

‘…Wait, perhaps.’

An idea was gradually taking shape. Of course, to enact that method, he would have to make a sacrifice. But he would gladly do so for Liv’s sake. Thus, once Liv had fallen asleep, Emmett spoke up:

“Are you listening?”

Though no response came, Emmett was certain they were listening. For they were always by Liv’s side.

“I have a proposal. Please release Liv from this place.”

Only after Emmett made that request did a weighty voice descend upon his head:

Did you think we imprisoned our child here because we didn’t wish to release her?

That too is our desire.

Impossible. Impossible. Impossible.

What do you take us for?

Insolent fool.

Despite the gods’ rebukes raining down, Emmett calmly opened his mouth:

“Are you truly unable to exert any power within Abgrund?”

Indeed.

We can only converse through that hole.

Through this small opening, I can only exert minimal power – merely sustaining life. That is all my child has been granted to remain alive until now.

According to the gods, they couldn’t apply any power to Liv within Abgrund. However, Emmett had perceived one strange point:

“Then how did you bring me to Abgrund?”

We simply employed a loophole using ‘divine punishment’.

We applied power to you, not our child.

“I see. So you used your power to bring me to this place.”

Correct. That much is possible.

“Then you can also use that power to return me to my original world.”

Indeed we can.

“Could that power not be used on Miss Liv instead of me?”

For a moment, silence followed before an explosive response came:

That is impossible. We cannot use our power on the child.

No! Still, the power to return you is a form of ‘divine punishment’ our future selves used unrelated to Abgrund! So the power of punishment could be applied to our child in Abgrund!

The moment we came to love this child, our power became sealed. But the power of divine punishment we unleash when our beloved child dies exceeds all else. We could use that power on the child.

The various gods began loudly arguing their opinions. Beneath that oppressive weight, Emmett covered his ears and simply waited for their discussion to conclude. Soon, their answer came to him:

It is possible.

“Then Miss Liv…!”

However, doing so will cost us the power to return you to your original world.

No immediate affirmative answer followed those words. Emmett hung his head deep in thought.

‘I should ask them to rescue Liv, even if it means I must remain here forever…’

Yet the thought of potentially never seeing Liv again tormented him. He had to meet the future Liv once more. To apologize to her, to bestow upon her all the world’s precious things. If he couldn’t meet Liv again, how could he ever atone to her?

“Liv will need help once she is outside. Is there truly no way for me to return?”

As if considering his words, the gods began another discussion:

Is there really no way?

The power we have for divine punishment is limited.

But if we accumulate it again, perhaps it could be possible…

We are not trying to exert power in Abgrund, but on the subject of punishment.

After a while, they presented Emmett with this answer:

We can return you to your original world again. However, you will have to spend an extremely long time here.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Emmett answered without the slightest hesitation.

Liv had already spent most of her life imprisoned in this dreadful place. For the woman he loved, Emmett was prepared to endure even longer. Even if it took hundreds of years, he would persevere.

“Please release Miss Liv from here instead, and drop her wherever I desire. I will remain imprisoned here until your powers recover.”

Very well, we shall do so.

At last, the gods accepted Emmett’s proposal.

However, it will require some time.

Since we will apply the same power to our child that we used on you, you will gradually become invisible to the child’s eyes, just as you were initially.

“I don’t mind. But please, keep this deal a secret from Liv.”

A remarkable one you are.

Through your sacrifice, you will come to save our child.